Bulldogs plan to use home-course advantage

Published 1:00 pm, Friday, September 24, 2010

Photo: Courtesy Photo By Betsy Lewis

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Photo: Courtesy Photo By Betsy Lewis

Bulldogs plan to use home-course advantage

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Fall golf is more about getting better for the spring than anything else, but after starting off with a third-place finish last week in the Hereford Invitational, the Plainview Bulldogs are looking to make a bit of a statement to some of their new District 3-4A opponents.

The Dogs played with Dumas in Hereford, and this week at the Plainview Triangular they are matched up with Randall and Caprock. Head coach Mike Lewis wants his team to think about what their play in this early fall tournament could communicate to their district opponents.

"I told them ‘You can set the tone for next spring by playing well now so these guys think Plainview is going to be tough to beat on its home course,' " Lewis said, adding that the Bulldogs will host one of the district tournaments in the spring.

The Bulldogs are a young group this year with a couple of freshman on the roster - Thomas Wirth and Matt Jolly - who Lewis said he hopes gain some confidence and experience this fall.

"Individually, I want all of them to do the best they can," Lewis said. "But mostly I want them to improve on the things we talk about in practice. Definitely, want them to focus on the short game, but each one of them has strengths and weaknesses."

The three veterans on the team - Jacob Rogers, Trent Kinkaid and Tim Gonzales - were able to play in summer tournaments with the freshman and were able to develop a chemistry this summer that Lewis said he thinks will benefit the team.

"These older guys knew the freshmen were going to help us out. I don't think they knew they were going to make us better so quick," Lewis said.

In Saturday's triangular, Lewis expects his team to post a score near 300.

"I'm thinking we should be around 304 or better," Lewis said. "That's a 76 average. They all know they can reach that because they've done it before, but if they shoot that or lower, then we get close to breaking 200."

While it is a long time away, Lewis hopes his team can use this opportunity on their home course to develop some confidence for district competition in the spring.

"I want the guys to know they have the ability to get to regionals," Lewis said. "Of course, that's way down the road, but if we can have some success early and get some confidence in them, it will be easier in the spring."

(Contact Ryan Thurman at 806-296-1355 or pdhsportsed@plainviewdailyherald.com. Become his fan on Facebook.)